Synonyms
Example Sentences
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023
His specialty is imaging up a landscape that utilizes pebbles and rocks, trees that are more natural, with lights illuminating them at night, and flowers like gardenias that perfume the entrance to a home.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2023
Combined, however, the situations at these three schools illuminate a broader concern about sports gambling on college campuses across all levels of competition.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 12 May 2023
Also available are a 360-degree exterior camera, over-the-air updates, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Ford's Zone Lighting system that lets owners selectively illuminate exterior lighting when parked.
—Carlos Lago, Car and Driver, 11 May 2023
The light passing through clear skies from the rising sun illuminates the underside of the incoming clouds.
—Kevin Ambrose, Washington Post, 7 May 2023
Kiunkaku is a 1919 former private villa preserved by the city of Atami as a time-traveling historic residence that features tiled Roman-style baths illuminated by stained glass.
—David Hochman, Forbes, 6 May 2023
This image, along with other data, provides crucial evidence illuminating some of the drama unfolding in and around supermassive black holes.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 1 May 2023
Steps and walkways should also be illuminated for safety.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023
IEEE Spectrum, 3 May 2023
Flashlights, lamps, and cellphones illuminate bodies but obscure faces.
—Danielle Momoh, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2022
Cole’s remarkable and unforgettable novel and its flâneur protagonist, Julius, a Nigerian immigrant, illuminate aspects of New York rarely before depicted in fiction.
—New York Times, 30 June 2022
Tender interactions like these illuminate Chloe’s emotional state, giving viewers more to latch on to than her longing stares and anxious lip biting.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2022
Animated characters sing along as trees and snowflakes illuminate to the beat.
—Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, 17 Dec. 2021
The details of the dispute illuminate major hurdles that countries around the globe will face in eliminating coal from their energy mix—and the need to develop local solutions to set an ambitious and actionable path toward decarbonization.
—Baker Institute, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021
If sentiments seem easily derived in a few stories, in the best ones, mysteries like Theodosia's illuminate larger truths about love, loyalty and the persistence of memory.
—Star Tribune, 8 Jan. 2021
The problem is that, while the careful study of history can provide policymakers with powerful insights, incongruous comparisons can just as easily obscure as illuminate contemporary challenges.
—Richard Fontaine, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2017
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'illuminate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Verb
Middle English, from Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare, from in- + luminare to light up, from lumin-, lumen light — more at luminary
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1600, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to illuminate
Dictionary Entries Near illuminate
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illuminate. Accessed 27 May. 2023.
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Kids Definition
illuminate
verb
More from Merriam-Webster on illuminate
Nglish: Translation of illuminate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of illuminate for Arabic Speakers
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